Triangle Sinclair Users Group

| ‘Triangle sinc sir
Tome x, USES
MH orl .. Grour

E January = February 1°54

Doug Dewey, 206 James St., Carrboro, NC 27510, 919-929-3079 (Pres)
Hiawatha Demby, Jr., 211 Nature Trail, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, 919-933-
9362 (Vice)

Dick Scoville, 2313 W. Club Blvd., Durham, NC 27705, 919-286-4959
(Sec)

Mike Boyce, 3313 East Oak Dr., Durham, NC 27712, 919-383-2000 (Treas)

Triangle Sinclair
Liss eer cs * Group Of Ficers

Send mail and inquiries to Doug Dewey if you are not yet a member.

The Triangle Sinclair Users’ Group meets once a month on the first
Sunday at 2pm in the Dreyfus Auditorium of the Research Triangle Park
facility just off of Cornwallis Rd. (see the map below). The public is
welcome, in fact the public is invited. Membership in our users’ group
is $10.00 a year and now is the time to send in your contribution. We
have a large public that we serve, and we need sustaining
contributions in the form of money, articles for the newsletter, or
ocasional letters telling us you are still interested in receiving our
publication. The donation of goods and monies by members and business
friends alike, is a welcome occurence and is also tax-deductible.

February’s meeting is set for Sunday the Sth and the March meeting
will be March the 4th. The February meeting will be a time to share
your own programs-—bring your tape recorder, some blank tapes and some
of your programs. There will be material for both the TSZX and the
2068, ideas and help for the novice user, and: problem-solving in the
areas of hardware and software. See you at 2pm.

James Hicks reports buying the BMC color monitor TV from Games = and
Gadgets in Crabtree Valley Mall and being very satisfied with it. He
says that it includes a filter circuit that gives a picture as good as
that of the Commodore 64 using the Commodore monitor! He alse reported
that the price was right at Crabtree. Dick Scoville found that the
rabbit-ears of his color TV affected the quality of screen he got from
his 2068. His hest reception is achieved with the rabbit—ears fully
extended vertically and both ears brought together and fastened with
something like a rubber band or an old stocking.

Bill Kegelmeyer has bought and used both Thomas Woods’ PRO/FILE and
Timex’s ORGANIZER. He likes both programs but thinks that PRO/FILE is
far and away the superior Program for its incredible speed and
documentation. In addition to all this, the first issue of Woods’
newsletter PRO/FILE Updates

CHAPEL HILL is out and contains such
—~* information as ways to
modify the program to use

RALEIGH
gt-

Byte-Back’s modem and
printer driver program, a
: "NOT" search, reducing
e q capacity and upgrading to a
> RU larger memory without losing

CAMILLE
OREYFUS LAE
AUDITORIUM

.-Re data, stringy floppy notes,
: and at least one small
correction that has to do
‘with enlarging the DS array
to make use of ai lager
memory pack (you must RUN
4000 before going to line
aes 17). And a program listing
TREN poauon: > to expand it all ta 42002
i UNDRY © _—— i i
HONTH AT THE CAMILLE DREYFUS _ DYERE-' Saving time (of #20
Been bee yOu ARE NOT UNDER ANY

FUN RNG LEARN R LOT, Too.

time of +20 minutes-~but 42K nonetheless, of storage! think of the
Ppossibilities.... Ti-e program is available for $146.95 from Thomas B.
Woods, P.O. Box 64, Jefferson, NH O7583, 603-586-7734 (VISA anc
MASTERCARD welcome). Order through TSUG and you get a $2.00 discount.
Doug Dewey has one 7X PRO/FILE (for $14.95), which he purchased at the
Boston Computer Show ard will be happy to sell it. After that one is
gone, orders will be collected through the users’ group and sent on te
Thomas Woods in New Hampshirs (if you want the 2.00 discount).

If you are interested in the two edge connectors in the 2068 you
should contact TSUG with your questions: schematics of the 2068 will
not be available from Timex until mid-year, probably. Carl Moreschi,
702 Madison Ave., Cary, NC 27511, 919-467-8146 and Doug Dewey have
both wired up their Sinclair ZX Printers to work on the 2068 by
supplying 9% volts to the printer at the appropriate pins. Carl
mentioned that disabling line Di makes the printer line up correctly
and everything looks betters I tried this fix and the printer sure
enough works even better (plus it gives much better reproduction in
newsletters and such).

Just for You in Cary Village Mall and DJ’s in Crabtree Valley Mall
both are carrying the ZX COMPUTING magazine from England. It is worth
the drive to get this magazine. Just for You will save you a copy.

This is the second issue that has included T-S HORIZONS magazine as
part of our monthly offeri:g; we may be able it get it one more time
for free distribution. it is available at a special discount to our
membership and the public we serve. For 100 subscriptions we could be
talking about $7.00 eachs 10 subscriptions for $11.00 each (there are
intermediate prices for intermediate numbers of subscribers. Let me
know or mention TSUG when you write to these good folks. We would like
to thank Rick Duncan and all the people at T-S HORIZONS for their help
in fleshing out our newsletter.

You will notice that we include a nice ad from Interface Design. This
is a very useful interface if you were wise enough to pick up several
TS1000’s when they hit the $19.95 price. If you weren’t €o wise,
garage sales and our pages in future months may reveal some sources of
inexpensive TSi000 computers. See John Oliger’s impressive offering to
convert your TSzX into a TI 99/48 (well, not quite) computer. If you
would like to advertise in our newsletter (we are now mailing out to
well over 300 addresses nationwide), the least expensive way is to
send us your ad already printed up as did Interface Design. Our rate
for such insert ads is $15.CO per issue for.a-full legal size sheet of
paper. We should warn you, however, that we do not think our pages
produce a large number of buyers of any given product until that
product is thoroughly reviewed in various different sources or unless
it offers something so valuable or so unique as to be irresistible! @
low price for amazing value is probably the most attractive asset a
product can have for the TSZX or 2068 owner.

Carl Moreschi has been keying in FIRSTLOADER, a specially designed
program for the 2O6E that lets you teke your already recorded programs
for the TSZX and load them into the 2048 (' who says it could not be
done!). After doing this. the 268 can produce a listing of the
program, making appropriate changes~-up to a point--and then you, the
user, take over and do a bit more changing. Finally, voila, a change
to a 2068 program. Carl says it works, but painfully so3 it may take
up to an hour of playing around with volume settings to get things
going correctly. But he will. have it at the next meeting--another
reason far getting to this February meet. Carl also reports being very
satisfied with his BMC monitor. The FIRSTLOADER program comes from
SYNTAX Newsletter, $29.00 for 12 issues, from The Harvard Group, RD2
Box 457, Harvard, MA O145i. This program/article aione almost
justifies the subscription price for all twelve issues. I will predict
(and I don,t predict unless I have a visionary perception about these
sorts of things) that as the market improves for TIMEX and SINCLAIR
products, a subscription ta SYNTAX will justify its hicher price, and
this will be so in every monthly issue. Telephone orders call 617-456-

3e61. ;

Another good newsletter that looks at a wide variety of hardware and
software and yet does not take advertising is TS USER from YAGSEE,
P.0. Box 155, Vicksburg, MI, 49097. Subscriptions are $16.95 for i2
issues: for $106.95 you can get all issues of Volume 2 (1983). In TS

8

USER*s effort to be unbiased, they are rather brash at times--I cali
it the English Edges but they trade newsletters with us and have a
very wide coverage. Though they also have ai penchant for being
trenchant, they are well worth a subscription.

The Charlotte Hamfest and Computerfair will be held at the Charlotte,
NC, Civic Center, March 16-17, 1984. For more info call Clyde Weddle
at 704-596-2168. There wili be another big one in Raleigh a little
later on, but not as big as the one in Charlotte, I am told.

April 26-28, 1964, the Great Southern Computer and Electronics Show
will be held in in the Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC. For more info,
call 904-384-6440. Last year I got some remarkable buys at the hamfest
in Raleigh and met a lot of nice people.

Our next issue of this newsletter will describe the working of
FIRSTLOADER, review RAMPAGER (1’ve been promising this for several
issues), review WAR IN THE EAST by Sharp’s, present a program called
Catalog that lets you find out what you recorded on all those old TSZX
tapes, review 2 programs by 2-BIT SOFTWARE, tell how to fairly easily
install various larger memory chips inside your TSZX, review the
remarkable HOT Z II, present a conversational game called SILENT
CONVERSATION by Dunbar Aitkins, and more. Join TSUG today or tomorrow
morning.

VIDEO BOARD UFGRADE FoR YoUR TtTs7x
By TJISEhMm Oliger

Here is an involved description of some rather sophisticated hardware
Projects for the person who would like to modify a TSZX computer. John
Oliger’s articles were published in S@, a quarterly published by the
Harvard Group. But they were prematurely terminated when Ss@Q ceased
publication after only 3 issues. I am hoping that John will write us
and send us one of the still unreleased articles and that we might
have the resources to publish it and do some really fine printing.

Believe it or not, we have the technical resources and might afford to
do it on a small scale.

The THS99IBA Video Project /Upgrage consists of two new Circuit boards for your expansion.
» (called video boards "A" and “BY) a small modification/addition to the ain 2X-BiF
152062 computer board, (dcide ORing the 280 NMI NOT line) or ZX-88 board (adding ROM CS NET te
Hy ied ifs’ edge connector) and a new 5,412) and ~5VDIC power supply if you don't
y fe ‘

Video Board "A* contains the THS99180 VDP itself, 16K of 4116 dynamic video ram, and one
Rory merase, ln rape Bi lao ae By
mesory address space, ually, in inclair fashi ress 7 going low selects

VDP; This board utilizes the VOPs* et Tings

Servicing 18 done user transparently. The new video output is on this board also, and is 75 Ohe

Composite video, Thus the use of a composite monitor is a must with the new video system.
Video Board "BY contains two 2764 eprows and four other support chips, making it the

Sinclair GX rom, but with the annotated changes included with the project. (Consequently, ¢o
build this video prozecty you HUST have or have access to, a 2764 eprom programmer) There is an
optional cassette tane available that will program the eproe for ee if you have gy programmer
mapped QG-16k. Lacking this; a program such as HOT Z aust be used to transfer the roe to spare
ram, the changes keyed iny anc then the eprom prosranmed from this modified data. So, to avoid

The logic on this *B" board also bank switches in and out the normal Sinclair roa from
IE@@-1FFFh. This part of the Sinclair rom is gotten by the VDPs’ initialization routine on
Power UP; and sent to the VMs’ video rag. The Ea epros contains cther ac in this area, along
with thé dot patterns for a complete lower case Character set. The other 2764 eprom (Eb) is

Seporate sheet.... there are many!!! .
This pragect is 99% software compatible with all software written for the 7%81/TS1908

computers. So far, only two rags have been reported that would not run on the new system.
They are 2X FORTH and KEMOTEGS :

Because the project involves so large an investment in tine anc money (greater than $108, 00
by the time you're through) and because the new computer already has everything this
Project has and wore, except 7X81/TSi002 software compatability, I recomend the following:

If you do NOT have wuch money already invested in your present 8 2X88, ZX81, or 751
System via hardware and software, (especially software instead of this video oroject buy the
new T5208 color computer instea, The TS206d alreacty has everything the video project will add;
ang ali its’ colors, etc, are fully Supported by its’ "Spectrum Basic", I consider the bss!
LIST price of $199, 95 VERY reasonable for this computer,

if you already have a lot of money invested in software/hardware for your present system,
and don't wind investing another $100. 82+ in yoir systew for the hea benefits (which will
Certainly enhance, speed-wise, any Basic “SLOK" program you run.on it) and/or simply like te
build new circuits/projects for your Computer, then build this video project by al] means! You
rel ae sie both building the video proect AND purchasing the new 2068 Computer, as J

ve

The choice is up to yon I simply wish to make it clear that this video project WILL NOT
make ro Eh Ties or TS1@00 into a TS2W68 computer, but WILi substantially improve your
present computer.

The basic prices of everything needed for the video ect are i

may have some idea of what money will be invested in oe ihe lace
VI eb BDRRDS § + *Be, along with both boards? Barts NIRS. cascscavesceveterccecenss $48, 3590p
TwS78188 VDP FOR ABOVE (Not avail from myseif-vendor list included in video doc) $32, 95-$29, 95
18.7206 Bil CRYSTAL FOR ABOVE thot avail fro wyself—verdor list included in vid doc}$3. 95
ee ae een BYSCLT)s cccecstcacecentereiedasdveieceeseee eteniecier bere

YT +] a ee, i BOARD WITH BOARD BOUNTING PARTS. .ccocncossncccavsesase$i 7s GOpP
TRANSFORMES FOR ABOVE (kot avail from if, .28 T 8; Videeeiese
TME9i80 VE? BASIE PRONG DSSETE ac ccacggpegrevesreccecnancceecnsees SSBF

Y y y :

CTA PAOBRYOER W/DTE oan ssaseazcaasergaggeesstsseeeseseessecevesnee $2. S50
PP * Co + af : ) Uy MOUNTING PARTS vi-cesces i svdces os seueiesavete es ®
§-§L5T EXPANSION BOSRD / CONNECTORS ey BOMETE ccc ene eeraees ae ee

GR
6-SLOT EXSASI0N BOARD W/CORNECTORS OND SOCKETS. ..ceccesccusccanasscescescecvessaces Shae T5RP

TMS9918A VDP VIDEO INTERFACE/UPGRADE BENEFITS

The new features/enhancements to the Timex/Sinclair system are detailed below:
1) No more screer flicker in either the FAST or SLOW modes.

2) SLOW mode runs almost as fast as FAST mode. BASIC programs that were slow and boring are
now fast ard exciting!

3) The 782 IX register is now open for use in 786 MC. (The AF’ register is still used in SLOW
BOUB; If @ Sisilar way to the way it was previously used by Timex/Sinclair? :

4) ALL limitations as to where in a 64K memory DFILE is positioned are removed with the system.
Your computer can no longer crash because of DFILEs* position ir: memory. This allows BASIC
program listings to exceec 16K in length without any probleme whatsoever.

5) If you also own my 64K memory board, a simple modification to both it and your computer will
allow BC programs to be run ANYWHERE in the memory map--including the very top of memory.

6) The video display will now rormally default to the more easily read white characters on a
black background. A built in software controlled video inverter! :

7) The entire character/backeround colors can be easily changed from BASIC to any of 16 colors
by a Siwply poke of the desired colors to 16424 then a RAND USR 7B81.

8) The display is now capeable of displaying on the video screen the entire LOWER CASE
Character set, alone with a number of other characters that could not be displayed before. A

ND USK 7884 enables the lower case set, (normally printed as inverse) and a RAND USR 7868
returns the system to its’ normal defaut set of inverse characters. All of these characters have
thier dot patterns stored permanently in the EPa eorom for instant access--there is no need to
POKE cot pattern codes anywhere or tie up any RA% whatsoever. —

9) If you own a Timex/Sinciair 204@ printer, and are in the lower case mode, the printer will
print ali of the new characters that are on the screem too. No additional hardware or software
is veguired for this and its’ operation is totally user transparent.

18) If you own sy own parallel printer port interface, the printer patch for the printer driver
routine can be made in the EPa eprom, and the ASCI conversion table and printer driver routines
can be put on another 2764 eprom and installed in the EPb eprom socket, eliminating any extra
hardware for the interface that would normally be required. The complete interface could be
made with only this projects’ hardware and the port board.

11) The video cutout from video board "A" is buffered 75 CHM composite video, suitable for

use with any standard comoosite video monitor, This project is not reccomended to be used with

meceiator/ viewing set up, as the degrading to the picture is considered objectionable with
is set-un.

12) NO ADDIONAL MENORY SPACE is used_by this system, whatsoever. The VDP and its’ own 16K of
ram are 1/0 mapped at port locations 7F and 3Fh. The bank select logic on the “B” board is
1/0 mappad at port FDh, the same port already used by Sinclair for thier NMI generator.

13) The system can instantly be returned to the normal Timex/Sinclair video system by simply
unplugging both video project boards and reconnecting the video monitor to the normal output.

14) The video ennancement project is 99.9% software compatible with all existing ZX/TS software
available, with no changes to the software requirec whatsoever. This was one of the primary
oals Gesirec 16 designing this system.

You may; however, fird tnat some MC arcade games, such as “Frogser” ard “Packrabbit" run
TOC fast, however. If this happens, simply remove the boards and use the ola video system for
those particular programs. }

15) Because DFILE is treated so differently by this project, as onposed to the old video
routines, you can no longer crash the system by POking the wrong (forbidden) codes there.

16) All the advanced features of the TNS991GA VDP chip are available to the MC enthusiast to
experiment with, such as programable characters, sprites; ano 4@ coluen per line displays, ete.
Before experimenting with MC for this pureose, I] suggest the user thorowenly read the “THS9916A
VDP BATA BAMUAL", availabie from Texas Instruments.

17) Because the 78¢ "R® register is no longer used by the system, any dynamic memory packs
that use the 78@ refresh register for thier refresh counters will now run totally “in spec".

18) If an BK rom 7X8@ is usec with this system, the ZX6@ will mow respond to the SLOW and FAST
commands. The particular 7XB@ must have an BK rom, no other “video upgrade" installed, anc RO
CS NOT sust be brought out to its’ edge trace 228 track. (Explained in the text)

ae

The John Oliger Co.
41681 Whidbey Dr.
Cumberland, IN 46229

PRODUCT LIST. All prices include First Class postage/packing-USA and Canada only,
Indiana residents add 5% sales tax. Canadian orders gust include money order payzable in US $¢,

All projects are designed for the 2X computer electronics experimenter /hobbiest with at least
some experience at electronics kit building, All pe boards except the power supplies are double
Sided with edge connector “fingers*, and are weant to be used in either expansion board below.
Ril boards are hand wade in-house, are 6-10 or FR-4 epoxy material + have solder Plated traces.
All are completely cut and drilied, but nofe feature plated through holes-feedthrough wires sust
be installed by the user. There is a {@ day money back satisfaction guarantee on ali my products
if the product is returned AS RECIEVED in that amount of time, Exchanges will also be honored in
the 16 days, too, if sufficient funds for the return postaye of the exchanged product are sent
with the return. No returns or exchanges will be accepted after 1@ days of your orders reciept.

BAK DYNAMIC RAM , Bare pc board:$i9, 95 _ Board w/parts ex. ram$34.95_
This project, featured in S043, (Xerox copy avail. @$2.5@ep) is a full feature 64K ram. Special
features of this memory not found on other 64K memories include: B-12K on/off switch, 12-16K
on/off switch, two banks of 8K ram avail. mapped B-16K (Bank A/B switch), 48-64K on/off switch.
Circuit uses “pin { refresh" type 4164 chips for reliable refresh.

PARALLEL PRINTER PORT Bare pc_board:$18, 00 _ Board w/parts:$20.95
This project was detailed completly in Sits 182, and the reading of this two part article is a
must for the project builder. (Xerox copy of this article avail. @ $5.@@pp) The actual port is
wemory mapped at location FFFFh, and is a bi-directional port. (Both sending to the printer and
Yeading the printer status supported) This board includes only its’ schematic, a theory of
operation sheet, and a mc listing w/comments of a copy screen routine, for use with the Okidata
printers, The circuit and software can be adapted to most other *Centronic® type printers. To
achieve full use of the Basic printer commands, part of the Sinclair ron aust be patched by
putting it on eprom. (Detailed in the article) Thus access to an eprom programmer and reader

is a must to make the port user transparent. (Requires rom + ram decode via use of 64K mem, etc)

2716 EPROM PROGRAMPIER _ Bare pe_board:$18,00 __, Board w/parts (ex. eprom) :$22. 95
This programmer was also described in S0#s 182, so this article is recommended reading on this —
one, toc. The programmer is menory mapped at 2000-27FFh and programs easily fron Basic by simpiy
POKing the desired data to one of the eproms’ locations, The programmer has its own latches on-
board and does NOT use the 782 WAIT NOT input, thus raw refresh probleus are completely avoided,
In the interests of simplicity, this programmer does not include verify circuitry. A source of
GOVOC is required for the 2716s programming voltage. (Vep supply, below, recommended) This board
includes only its’ schewatic and a Basic programing example sheet. This board may also be used
directly on the TS2068 computer without any modification. (Rom decode required for T$1000/ZX-81)

2764 EPROM PROGRAMMER Bare pc board:$10, a Board «/parts (ex eprom) :$22.95
This programmer is identical to the 2716 programmer above, excest for the following: The circuit
has been changed to accept 28 pin 2764 eproms : The eprom is manped 2000-3FFFh : 21VDC is now
required for the programming voltage. (Avail. from Vpp Smelt: below) This board comes with its!
schewaticy assy instructions, and a theory of operation « If this board is ordered along
with a 2764 # 2 read board (below), a copy of an unpublished article on using these boards as
“cartridge® boards is included with the order at N.C, This programmer can be used on the TS2868

Vpp POWER SUPPLY Bare pc board:$4, 49 Board w/pc mounting parts:$9. 95
This seal) single sided board provides 4.4, 21, and 25VDC for use with either programmer above,
This circuit is designed to put as little stress on the eprom as possible during programming and
is recommended for use with the above programmers, Board is supplied with schematic, assembly
instructions, and use instructions. Parts kit does NOT include transformer or power cords.

2716 # 4 EPROM READER = ==-—_sBare pe board:$18.00 Board w/parts (ex eprom) :$14,95
This board, also described in SO#s ike, can hold up to four 2716 eproms mapped 6-16K. The board
can be modified (details included) to accept 6116 type static ram chips along with eprom, if

desired. Its’ purchase includes its’ schematic and the mod sheet for 6116 use. (Req. row decode)

2764 # 2 EPROM READER Bare board:$10.08 or 30625.95 Board w/parts:$14.95 or 38638. 95
While smail in size and complexity, this board is versatile in that it is capeable of mapping
either of its’ 2764 eproms anywhere in the 64K map in 8X blocks. (Within reason) This hoard is
intended to be used as a “cartridge”, if desired, for storing Sinclair programs on eprom and
its’ purchase includes a copy of this article if the 2764 programmer is also ordered. This one
comes with its' schesaticy assy instructions, and a theory of operation sheet. Rom decoding and
ran decoding is required. This circuit can itself decode the rom if one jumper is installed.

MEMORY ACCESS MONITOR Bare pc board:$5.08 at ; wae

This very small board is a very simple circuit that Simply indicates via the use of eight LEDs
where in the 64K memory map the 288 cpu is READind or WRITing. The circuit uses only one icy and
is extremely easy to assemble, Although this circuit does not actually do anything, it can be
very useful in debugging hardware projects and ac programs that cause the computer to crash, by
indicating where the cpu is after the crash. Only a schematic is included with this one because
it is simple enough to require only this for construction. This circuit works also on the TS2Q64

TWS9318R VIDED PROJECT/UPGRADE Bare board "A":$14,95 Boarc "AY w/parts:$37. 0

Bare board "&*:11.98 Board “B" w/parts:$:7, 98
Complete package of both boards "AY anc "B", along with parts kits for both:$48.95 (Save $6.85!)
(Parts kits do NOV incuoe the TMS3S18A VDP, its’ 18, 7366mh2 crystal, or the required 2764 eprom!
(These are avail, NOT from myseif, at about a total cost of $41,95 to $51.95, Verdor list inc)
This project is a very involved upgrade for ie TS1@0@/2X-81 computer, that allows your ZX to
have tany features 1% has never hac before. A few cuick examples are a SLOW mote almost as fast
as fast mode, a B-INX FREE FAST mode, lower case characters option instead of inverse, etc, This
project requires a Composite type vioec monitor, tne 2764 eprom programmer, and the hy +20) ~OVDE
power supplys below. (IF you dc not alreacy have one) For more details on this one; Please write,
This progect includes COMPLETE socumentation, and source listing of the new software/firaware.

TME99i8" VDP ENHANCED BASIC PROGRAMMING CASSETTE for use with the video project:$6, 95

40, +1c) and -SVOC BOWER SUPPLY Bare pr board:$6. 95 Board w/pe mounting parts:$!7, 95
Tris Single sidec pc ooard supeiies ai: the recuired voltages for the video project, above, and
is Cacgabie of powering not only these circeits but a.so the ZX computer and atl other extra
Curcuits in your system, The use cf this supply with the video system eliminates having to use
the Sirc.air power pack completiy. (Parts kit does not incluce 24~2hVCT @ 1 to 2 A. transformer
or the nec power cords anc fuse. Comes with schematic and assembiy instructions,

4-SiDT EXPANSIGN BOagD Bare ec board:$18. 08 Board w/all conn/sockets:$32. 95
6-SLOT EXPANSION BOARD Bare pec boardr$i4, 95 Board w/ail conn/sockets:$43, 95

cither of these two expansior boards are required to “plug” the other boards above inte: your
systet. The 4-siot board features four 25 pin double read out "slots", along with three 28 pin
experimentai ic socket pads areas, The G-siot board is almost identical to the 4siot board, but
has Six slots anc six e@ pin ic sccket arees. The complete kits contain all edge connectors and
ic sockets that mount on the board, along with one more 23 pin double readout conmector for
connection to the computer. All edge cormectors are pre-cut to size, and have the required slot
guide installed. Ail ecge connectors supplied witn these boards are prime Texas Instr connectors

Prires subject to chance without notice

Here is a good

Gary Smith of
Software. In a recent issue
of our newsletter we
published a review of
XFORTH, and here is a good
reply. Several points need
underlining: Hawg Wild’s
XFORTH has a new and more

letter from
Hawg Wild

complete manual , but I
understand that a beginner
really needs to buy their
awn book. A new book out
that I bought and am thus
far pleased with is
published by John Wiley: The
Complete Forth by Alan
Winfield. Now that I have

read some of Winfield’s book
I have to find a little time
to sit down with XFORTH and
see what I can do. Everyone
tells me that a language as
different as FORTH may need
some understanding before
jumping onto
So, any book that can convey
that understanding may be
vital to how well it goes.
Alan Winfield’s book seems
to be my type of

for the beginner
some understanding of
but little else.
see how it goes.

whe has
BASIC
So we'll

Now on a different note: our
review mentioned the need
for an editor sectian or
editor program to be used
with XFORTH. Though an
editor might be a necessary
part of a FORTH system, one
of XFORTH’s strong points is

that it features one pass
loading without extra
complicated editor loads

(some versions require up to
four extra editor loads).
XFORTH is really threaded
(not arrayed) FORTH, and it
is FORTH-79 standard, listed
by the FORTH Interest Group
for the TSZXxX with two
exceptions: the tables are
Sinclair and not ASCII, and
graphics aids such as PLOT,
AT, RND were added. Finally,
Gary Smith and Hawg Wild

support their version with the “YFORTHXCHANGE” newsletter.
(but still oF
complicated to use and often crashes because of its
the novice lea

is very competitive

the keyboard. .

book~—one’

4 DEC. 1983
P. 0. BOX 7668
LITTLE ROCK. AR 72247

DICK SCOVILLE
2313 WEST CLUB BLYD.
DURHAM. NC 27785

DEAR DICK,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOTE AND PREVIEW OF YOUR
FORTHCOMMING PIECE ON XFORTH. NATURALLY. I WOULD
PREFER NOTHING BUT GLOWING PRAISE FOR THIS OR ANY
OFFERING FROM HAWG WILD SOFTWARE, BUT WELL MEANT
CRITICISM HAS ITS PLACE AS WELL. XFORTH HAS HAD
REVIEWS THAT WERE VERY COMPLIMENTARY, AND THOSE
THAT WERE NOT SO FLATTERING.

IN ALL CASES I HAVE HELD TO SET RULES OF
CONDUCT FOR HAWG WILD SOFTWARE. IN ALL CASES WE
(I> THANK THE REVIEWER FOR TAKING THE TIME AND
EFFORT TO EVALUATE OUR PRODUCT. I WANT TO DO THAT
NOW. I HAVE DONE SEVERAL REVIEWS MYSELF, AND
REALIZE IT IS A MOST SERIOUS TASK. I APPRECIATE
YOU FOR EXPENDING THAT TIME AND EFFORT IN OUR
BEHALF. ) . .

SECONDLY. WE NEVER ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE
REVIEW IN ANY WAY. I AM WELL AWARE THAT MANY
VENDORS DO APPLY PRESSURE TO ASSURE THEMSELVES OF
AR POSITIVE IMAGE. I AM CONVINCED NO ONE IS SERVED
BY SUCH MANEUVERING. @ESIDES- ONE OPINION,
NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE, WILL NOT MAKE OR BREAK A
PRODUCT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR INDICATING THAT
I AM CAND BY INFERENCE-HAWG WILD IS> HELPFUL.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES IS A
SUBJECT OF PRIDE, AND ONE WE STRIVE TO MAINTAIN.
THAT IS THE REASON FOR “XFORTH XCHANGE’ OUR FORTH
USERS’ NEWSLETTER. IT SIMPLY SERVES TO PROVIDE -
CONTINUING SUPPORT TO THE PURCHASER OF A FORTH
PRODUCT FROM HAWG WILD. I MIGHT ADD THE LETTER IS
DISTRIBUTED TO PURCHASERS OF ALL FORTH ITEMS FROM
US. THIS INCLUDES KERNELS FROM OTHER VENDORS FOR
VARIOUS MICROS OTHER THAN 2X/TS, AND OF COURSE THE
JUPITER ACE 4@0@ FORTH BASED MICRO AS WELL AS
XFORTH ITSELF.

IF DOUG INCLUDES A RESPONSE YOU MAY USE THIS
LETTER. (BY THE WAY, I WILL COPY HIM ON THIS
RESPONSE-HOPE YOU DON’T OBJECT> READING OVER IT, I
REALIZE IT STATES PRETTY MUCH WHAT I WOULD ANYWAY.

I WOULD POINT OUT THAT FORTH MAY BE TESTED AS
WORDS ARE DEVELOPED, AND IF CORRECTIONS/EXTENSIONS

ARE REQUIRED THEY MAY BE IMPLEMENTED AT THAT TIME.
THIS MAKES THE NEED FOR AN EDITOR MUCH LESS
SEVERE. WE STRIVED TO PRODUCE A FORTH-79 STANDARD
KERNEL WHILE PRESERVING AS MUCH MEMORY AS POSSIBLE
FOR USER APPLICATIONS. WE FEEL WE ACHIEVED OUR
OBJECTIVE. THAT ISN’T A DEFENSIVE RESPONSE - JUST
TING THE “CASE FOR’.

ane OF OTHER INTEREST TO 2X/TS FORTH INTERESTED
PERSONS MIGHT BE THE FOLLOWING. WE ARE CURRENTLY
EVALUATING THE POSSIBILITY OF PRODUCING SOME OTHER
FORTH KERNELS. MORE ABOUT THE KERNELS. AND THE
MACHINES THEY WILL DRIVE WILL BE REPORTED IN
“MFORTH XCHANGE’. WE THINK IT IS ALL QuITE
EXCITING

OF AR MORE IMMEDIATE NATURE - WE NOW HAVE OUR
REVISED MANUALS OUT FOR XFORTH 41.3. THEY ARE MORE
ACCURATE AND MORE DETAILED- BUT SORRY DICK, NO

MEMORY MAP
FINALI.Y, I HAVE FORWARDED YOUR REMARKS TO MY
ASSOCIATES IN ENGLAND. WE CONSIDER ALL INPUT. IF

WE DO NOT, WE WILL NOT SURVIVE. TAKE A LOOK AT THE
COMPANIES THAT FELL BY THE WAY BECAUSE THEY
THOUGHT THEY KNEW BETTER THAN THEIR CUSTOMERS WHAT
WAS GOOD FOR THE CUSTOMER.

AGAIN, MP? SINCERE THANKS

SINCERELY.

_ GARY SMITH

The price

if the program is
very nature and

rner (more on this later after I

may be high

the inexperience of
have had ; try). It costs $25.00 and it also has 4 floating point
extension or enhancement available for an extra $15.00§3 in both cases

add a dollar
available

for S&H for each cassette ordered.
a new series of

also has
write for

Hawg Wild
programs for radio amateurs:

details. See Hawg Wild’s address on Gary’s letter.
NEWSLETTERS GALORE

Gvreailabie Foro Wour

We exchange newsletters with 3 groups-in Fiorida,
2? in Massachusetts,
1 in England and 1 in New Hampshire for a

Pennsylvania,
Maryland, 2 in Canada,
ef 15.

Imfarmati om

1 in Michigan, 1 in
i in Georgia, i in
total

2 in California,

WSInGSG =TWwWO TSHi00oOo COMrPUTERS
AND =+THO VOTEMS AND JOHN
SNAKEMBURG?’ Ss DATA PROGRAM
FoR A TIR. HIGH Science FPROJIECT
by John and Dowg Dewey

In my Physical Science class we were given the assignement to do a
science fair project. I chose to do a project to see whether north or
south facing rooms differed in temperature from one another. We
discused all of the problems with using a real house to take
measurements and decided that we would have to use a miniature house,
like one made out of cardboard. I talked this over with my father and
showed him the thermometers that my science teacher sent home with me.
We did a little talking and decided that the possibilities for more
problems using a cardboard box were still awfully great, and that
there would probably be too much chance for bias in my measurements.
My dad was talking with a computer friend about using our VOTEM and a
program to measure the. temperature when the friend suggested making
the little house out of styrofoam insulating sheets and bathtub caulk.
So Dad and I worked together on this project. He typed in John
Snakenburg’s program called DATA and made some small changes on it and
we borrowed another VOTEM so that we could have two computers working
together at the same time, each taking readings Simultaneously. And we
used two printers, too. Our experimental house has what my Dad calls
"translucent" white plexiglass windows on each end and is divided down
the middle and all sealed up so that no air can enter or leave while
it sits outside and so that the rooms are separated, too. It measures
about 25" x 9" x 7” and you can see how we built it in the diagrams.
We took readings every minute so that from 12:00pm to 1:45 pm we took
100 points of data. We tried to start a litte earlier but one computer
set-up kept crashing. I liked using the DATA program because I could
see exactly what had happened after my experiment. My Dad showed me
how to use the different graphs so we could compare the two rooms. My
teacher was impressed, too. The resulting data showed that the
southern room was significantly higher in temperature than the
northern room in the middle of the day. It was really surprising how
hot it got inside the southern room but the northern room stayed
pretty cold. At the time the computers were working, I took
_ temperatures of the outside air and then we made sure that the VOTEMS
were accurate with the thermometer. The outside air never got much
above 10 degrees Celsius and the day was partly cloudy and the sun
kept coming and going. The southern room got up to 34.397 degrees
Celsius. You can see this in the graphs of the southern room because
the data keeps going up and down while the northern room just
gradually got a litte hotter as the day went by. Now here’s my Dad to
tell you about the DATA program.

i TO 1688 SCALE=6.6

.

Gk PRINTS;& NEN

S PRINTS; f MENU

1 REM S@RND® 3: .2Bicos «= RE
TURN JPR RUN re OS <= RETURN fFS - ‘
RO BE ar J
€ 3s i
5 LET vee, ooe0a74 SoG ener. *
ne eee Re 126 268 CLS
5
18 Ors A(18,185 255 fis
= 372 GO as
_ i? PRINT ‘AT 5,2; "PRESS B To TA 37s Per net
KE DATA “ 36 FOR ¥si TO 128°
416 PRINT AT 9,8, "PRESS TO st 355 FOR vei TO 18
ART DTA AND INCRE-MENT DATA” 3QQ LET AsALX.Y)
2@ SLOW S55 PLOT N.A
25 IF INKEY$="A" THEN GOTO 36 40@ LET N=N¢+F
#6 IF INKEY$="B" THEN GOTO 56s 405 IF N:s6@ THEN LET N=
SO GoTo 25 418 NEXT ¥
SS FAST 415 NEXT X
40 FOR xk=1 TO 10 4147 PRINT AT @,@; "PEAK ="; PEAR,”
45 FOR Y=i To 18 SCALE=";F
EG GOSUE 31a 420 RETURN
SS LET Aix, Vi su 432 FAST
6@ NEXT ¥ 435 CLS
ES NEXT x 443 PRINT “INPUT SCALE FRCTOR”
?@ LET PEAK SA ti, 1) 44% PRINT -
75 FOR xsi To 12 445 INPUT F
S@ FOR Veil TO 18 45@ PRINT YINPUT STARTING POINT
6S TE PERK A LX.) THEN GOTO 35 is
3 i FSR! 452 PRINT
SS NExT ¥ 455 INPUT §$
1@@ NEXT xX 46@ PRINT “INPUT END POINT"
185 FAST 465 INPUT E
1@? GOSUB ses 470 CLS
138 GOSUB 37a 473 GOSUE 6S5
118 FRINT AT 0,8; "FESK =": PEAR 475 LET Nel
220 PRINT AT 24.0: "f CONTINUES” 48@ LET Wet
123 SLOW 452 FOR xX=1 To 1@
1ES IF INKEYg$="Z" THEN GCTO 125 490 FOR v=1 Ta 18
ise GoTo 135 495 LET ASAIx.Y)
125 FAST SQ IF WcS OR WE THEN GoTo S22
140 CLS G85 PLOT NAS
248 PRINT "DO YOU WISH To...7" £10 LET N=N
158 PRINT SiS IF t =60 THEN LET N=@
155 FRINT S20 LET WsW+:
160 PRINT "B" 4; SEND RAL OC S25 NEXT ¥
ATA TO PRINTER" ESQ NEXT xX ;
wise PRINT ar TAs 4; "SEND SCREE S23 PRINT AT @,8;5;" TO "jE?"
ru its : ECALE= =
ae PRINT “BP STAB 4; "BOTH & Ant BS PRINT AT 21,0; "HB PRINTS: BH
oe ENU"
IT?S PRINT “BU, TRE 4; "RETURN TO S4Q SLO
SCREEN" S45 IF INKEY$="A" THEN eoTo Sis
1?? PRINT “Bu; TAB 4; "EXPAND SCR B47 IF INKEyYg=x"Z" THEN GOTO i235
EEN" E50 GOTO 545
1?S PRINT "TAG 6) "RESTART" SES cory
18@ SLOW 56a GOTO 135
185 IF INKEYs$="A" THEN GOTO 218 €65 CLS
190 IF INKEYg$=<'8" THEN GOTO 265 E65 GOSUB 6&5
295 IF INKEY$="C" THEN GOTO 2208 S67 SLOu
200 IF INKEY$="D° THEN GOTO 12a5 S68 LET Fei
202 IF INKEY$="E" THEN GOTO 438 S70 LET Net
#@4 IF INKEY#=s"F" THEN GOTG 16 575 LET Osi
2085 GOTO 185 580 BRINT AT 21, 42 “Nei”
218 Fast Sé5 FOR x=1 TO
#iz CLS 590 FOR Y=i TO rt =
215 LET Cel 595 IF INKEY$="B" THEN GOTO 6283
220 LET Dei . 6e@ GOTO SOS
#25 FOR x=1 TO 18 6@2 FAST
230 FOR y=1 TO ie G25 GOSUB 312
235 PRINT C;" ";RUKLY), 607 SLOLU
242 IF D240 THEN COPY 6i@ LET A(X,Y) =U
241 IF D=8@ THEN COPY 615 LET AsA(K,Y)
243 IF C=#1@2 THEN tory 620 PLOT N,A
e4a IF bs4e OR O28 THEN CLS 625 LET N=N¢1
#45 IF D=4e OR O=80 THEN LET f= 63@ LET O=D41
@ 625 PRINT AT 24,0; "N=" BD
250 LET C=C+i 640 IF N:26@ THEN LET N=@
255 LET D=bei 645 NEXT ¥
256 NEXT ¥ 650 NEXT xX :
257 NEXT X 655 PRINT AT 21.2; SSS
z#6a GOTO 135 660 IF INKEY$="L" THEN GOTO 667
ZBS FAST 685 GoTo 66a
Z7T@ GOSUB 372 667 FAST
Zee COPY 662 GOTO 723
285 GoTo 135 6&5 FAST
290 FAST Ga? FOR v<@ TG 4@ STEP 42
295 GOSUB 37a Bo@ FOR x=1 TO 6@
sae CORY ESS PLOT x,
Sas GOTO 218 780 NEXT X
S1@ LET Usi6Si4 705 NEXT ¥ 7
SiS LET Ust(-@,@2154USR U+sig.1 7iG FOR x=@ TO 6@ STEP 62
}21@0) 418 Fis FOR Y=@ Ta 4a
320 RETURN 720 PLOT X,Y
325 m 725 NEXT ¥
32a PRINT aT = "ENTER » AXIS s 730 NEXT xX
SCALE FACTOR” _ 735 RETURN
S35 PRINT AT 6,0; "2.E., .2 COMP
RSSES SCALE" Ree
240 FRINT AT 7,8) "AND 2 EXPANDS
z48 SLOW

e

The program we used was written by John Gnakenburg and does a fine job
en this project. 1 REM is just machine code for the VOTEM and line 7
(variable P) was not needed in this experiment but could be changed to
other values and used in the formulas in lines 390, 495, 615 where the
computer is plotting stuff on the screen; it might be needed so that
out of range numbers do not occur. A peak value is computed = and
displayed and you can see each data point taken or let the computer
take all 100 points before seeing anything. The program "“wraps" the
data around on the screen in the first screen presentation (which we
have not presented here). The extremely important part of this program
is the ability of the computer to generate lots of different ways of
looking at the data, expanding it, viewing just part of the data, and
printing all out on the printer. With a bit of ingenuity you can use

DATA by hand and not worry about the VOTEM (change the formula in line

315 and have an INPUT statement just before 315 so that you will put a
value into V and then into the A(10,10) array. The computer graphics
were created by using VU 3D on the 2068--an excellent addition to your
library of educational enhancements for your 2068. Let me just add
that I have heard that the 2068 served as the prototype for the IBM
PCJr.§ no wonder that the 2068 is so much more computer for your money
than the mish-mash of IBM’s latest venture into the deep water of low
priced consumer electronics. I’ve even heard that the software for
both IBM and TIMEX machines is made in Samarkanda and that is why the
Packaging is so similar--sleek silver grey for the top-of-the-line at
the low end of the spectrum. :

49 12.4632 S@ 12.5044
Si 12-¢525 52 12-5662
53 15.5668 S4 12-5486
5S ipl 33i 5s 121834 ;
57 15.9986 S& 139.4636
59 13.3075 6@ 13.4108 4 To. 108 SCALE=0.3
6i 13.5344 62 13.6168 :
63 isle7e6 64 13 3636
65 15.864 66 15.967
&? 14.0494 68 1411346
69 14. 78 14.579
Fi 14.4614 72 14-5644
78 14 eB6eS 74 14.6465
75 14/6466 76 1426468
77 14.6856 78 14 6262
79 44:6a5 ee 1l4.7ea6
81 14.7496 Be 14.8116
BS lalervaa Sa 14.9353
S5 14 i804 S6 14.9352
SF 14.9146 8S 14.9146
69 14.9146 98 15.0176
91 15-e586 $2 15:
@3 iS le7a4a 94 15:0794
35 is .Ba56 38 ie Agas :
89 15lse3 16@ 15.1412 ( PRINTS: HEN

Here are some notes from Fred Nachbaur, who publishes one of the best
little math and science-oriented newsletters for the TSZX/2068 in the
country. Fred’s company, SyncWare Co., P.O. Box wi77, El Monte, CA
91734, also puts out some really clever games. Fred wrote us in
November and we*ll include his comments a little later on. I hope you
will be motivated to buy one of his fine games or other programs:
Storm Lander 3, Miner’s Revenge, NFLX Football, and Super Slide are
all $9.95 each and he pays postage. SyncWareNews is $15.00 a year. CE
Amp is a program about common-emitter transistor amplifier circuits
with emitter feedback. It is written in BASIC and Fred says that the
printed listing is almost 10 feet long. He says, "The pregram allows
you to experiment with the CE circuit without ever having to build one
up on the bench} you can make various changes and see what effects
they have right on your TV screen....In addition to its problem-—
solving capacity in this area, CE Amp can be a powerful learning aid
to help you understand transistor circuits and the concepts of
biasing, gain, stability, and equivalent circuits." Before Xmas CE Amp
was avalable for $15.00, but I’m sure it is higher now.

Well here is a good bit from Fred’s letter:

"I should have perhaps mentioned when I sent “Miner’s Revenge" that it
was written primarily for mature players-—and yes, it helps to have a
couple drinks before an MR session. It is a genuinely difficult game,
more often than not it’s insoluble even for the advanced Players. Part
of the game is figuring out all the subtleties of the game, which is
why we went out of our way to make the instructions rather cryptic. To

answer a couple points brought up, though, and perhaps to help in
understanding the game, here are some tips: 1) Try to make
“staircases" so you won’t need spikes to get back up, 2)Don’t be
afraid to use the BREAK key and start over. After a while it is quite
obvious if you blew it, you might even start over if you can’t use
your lantern due to a fall, 3) Try to keep ore (#) accessible but don’t
pick it up until you’ve picked as many bonuses (xX) as possible and are
ready to pick up the 9th markers: it’s worth more as you go along, and
bonuses MULTIPLY the value! Present record--$75000, 4)Walking mode is
provided so you can “feel” your way around in the dark without digging
anything out. Also recommended for general walking so a false move
won’t dig out a (perhaps vitally needed) support.

much appreciated Mr. Scoville’s commens on FOURIER. I am
planning an update (hoping to have it ready around March 84)
comments will be invaluable in designing the rewrite. Until
then, I’m reducing the price of the current version to $12 including
tape. The new version will go for about $20, with a discount to owners
of the present version. As it was originally written to be useable on
Zx80 also, the present version doesn’t take advantage of the ZXx8i’s
improvemens-—-new version will be specifically for TS$1000/1500.

“I very
currently
and his

"Current NFLX tapes include a number of minor improvements (mainly
Graphics cleanups)....-Like Miner’s Revenge it is not easy to get this
game (Storm Lander 3)“wired," especialy at level 4. (This is the main
improvement from the last version-~level 4 was quaranteed suicide
before, now it’s still very difficlt but not impossible.) Keep your
sense of humor when you play it--the graphics should help. Also put
aside your "scientific" mind--this one’s just for fun. HINTS: Keep your
eye an the altitude figure and on speed+flaps (200 is level flight.)
Level changes occur as altitude crosses the "hundreds" mark (e.g.,
levels change at 100, 200, 300, etc. feet.) Don’t go above 1500 feet;
you stall (erash into the sky) at this level. Other surprises I wan’t
give away."

HERPRL EASA SSE SHS ESSE SEES EE EEES

CAC STRAIGHTEN LINEN CLOSET
RRREEARE FAA SA HASSLE SHEESH EERE ES

MOM FEEDWATER SCOUT DAILY
RHPHSESERELSASL SE LAE EES EEE SESE GE

JOEL CLEAN THE BATHROOM
RRRELE LEASE LS LASHS SLES EES ES EE ES

GABE SHAKE RUGS WASH-RETURN
SRHFFSSERERHAAHAAS ASSES ESE EEE ESE

DAD CLEAN BATHROOM SINK # ®
SERRA SEA SALES LAER SEESEESEHEREE

MOM -GRRBAGE-OUT ?x/GATHER 1x

poe ee re
. =

S

: FAMILY

: JOB Jar

:

=

:

:

vs

ts

is

= |
* GABE VACUUM LUGYONG ROOMS
‘a

:

*

“

A al

z

:

g —
:

:

:

a

JAR

ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF
12 DEC 83

CAD WATER PLANTS TWICE & &

SESE ALLA SHALE ESSE SEEKERS ESE

MOM SWEEP BACKPORCH-STAIRS
PEPPER SSSEA LE SAL TEE E SEE EEEE
JOEL SWEEP BSMT STAIRS-INSICE
HRHPREA ESTAR RHA HEHE EERE SE HRES ESE
GABE CUT THE GRASS -YARDWORK
RESP LELH RLS EERE EHR REE ESE ELEEEE
CRD WASH CAR WINDOWS

PPELE LAA ARA HAHAH HERE E RES HER EEE
MOM SET-CLEAR TABLE (§:3a1
RHFERARFKEHP LEAH S EASES E KES E ZEEE

JOEL WASH OISHES-INCL TABLE
ERSL TERRA ARASH HLS ERS EL SEER HES

RPSL REESE ARS HL SSE REEERESEEE SE

JOEL PICK UP LITTER-FRONT -BACK
HESLEHLR SAA ELHS SHES SE EEHESEEEES

GABE SWEEP BSMT STAIRS-oOUTSIDE
RFELHTELEREATH SAL ERE ESE SE EEEE SEES

DRE STRAIGHTEN THE PANTRY
RFRHRS RAL ESS H SRE HE HES EE EEKELESS

MOM (SWEEP FRONT STRS “WALK /GWYy
PRAEFETE SERA H SESS S SESE EEE ESEESSE

JOEL SWEEP KITCHEN FLooR
‘PRESSES ST GES s 4895 oe lee seeks

GABE OUST LUG/ONG ROOMS
FSPRAEAA ASHER SSE SHS EREEEEEEEEE

. &€72-674 Prints graphic display on printer and clears screen

THE NICKELS” FAMILY JOB JAR
a PROGRAM FPROMOTING HARMONY
AT HOME
by Dennis J. & Michale M.Nickels
and Joel and Gabe

Our family had initiated a "“job-jar" of weekly chores to spread out
the housekeeping duties. My wife, who works, had stronaly suggested
that we all pitch in for the good of the family. Gur two sons (aged 7
and 10) agreed and we selected a list of 20 jobs to be completed
weekly. These jobs ranged from “feed the dog" to “take out the
garbage," and changed weekly through a random drawing. We wrote the
"jobs" on slips of paper and drew these slips in turn from aie cigar
box. The only rule we had was that if you pulled a job that you had
the week before, you were able to put it back and re-draw3 or if you
wanted, you could keep it for another week. This rule was important
because sometimes it was better to keep an easier job such as “water
the plants--twice" than risk pulling "clean the bathroom. .

After all the “jobs” were drawn we would make a list that could be
posted for all to see. I decided that this was a situation that I
could possibly program on my TS1000 and set about writing my first
real program. Here is the result of that attempt.

Here are some line notes to make clear what is happening:

10-360 Draws the border "

370 8, 8 inverse spaces, 5

380 @, 8 inverse spaces, W

390 @, 10 inverse spaces, W

400-510 Draws the sides of the jar

520-570 Fills in Bottom of Jar

580-590 Pause

593-674 Flashing Label

680-990 Welcoming instructions

1000-1040 Allows entry of 4 names (4 characters maximum). This line
may be modified to suit your family by changing the dimensioning line,
PS (# of persons, # of characters per name). Also change lines 1020,
1150, 1170. You will also have to change line 1040 if you allow more
than 4 characters per name.

1050-1090 Allows entry of 20 jobs, 25 characters max DIM J$ 20,25. You
may also modify this section of the program as long as you also change
lines 1070, 1110, 1120, 1150, 1160, and 1550.

1100-1200 Randomly selects a job CJ$(N)J marks it so it will not be

‘repeated, assigns it to person P$(N) and prints display of person’s

name and job.

1210-1320 Asks if job is acceptable and allows yes or no response. If
response is “no” a new job is selected and the previous job is
“unmarked” and returned to the “jar." If the response is "yes" it will
be printed on the list on the printer and the next person’s name and
job displayed. This continues till all the jobs are assigned. (NOTE:
Last job must be taken.)

1330-1540 Program ends, printed list is complete and is ready to be
posted.

1550-1590 Subroutine that selects random number and marks it if it is
used. Also checks for "marker" and if found selects another random
number .

To use the program it needs to have variables P$ and J$ initialized as
follows: after loading, type in GOTO 1000 and after receiving the

inverse L cursor enter 4 family members’ names (4 characters max).
Then enter the 20 job titles (25 characters max). After the 20th title
is entered the program will start running. BREAK and ENTER "GOTO i"
After you SAVE to tape, the persons” names and the job tiles will
remain in memory. You may change a job title at any time by SREAKing
the program and entering in the immediate mode: LET J$(N)=new job
title (25 characters max) where N is the sub number of the job title
to be changed. ?
Important: always start the program with GOTO i--if you RUN you will
Clear all variables and wipe out all family names and job titles.

; ET x= ‘
22 FOR N=l To 32 859 LPRINT
30 LET ‘w=1 $68 LPRINT
48 PLOT x,¥ 87@ CLS
S@ LET X=x+1 838 PRINT _AT 3.9; "USE OF THIS P
68 LET Y=r-i ROGRAM IS EASY
72 PLOT X,¥- 89@ PRINT "AS YOUR NAME APPEARS
88 LET x=x41 » A JOB WILL"
92 NEXT N 922 PRINT "APPEAR BELOW IT. IF
100 LET Y=: THIS J08"
148 FOR N=1 TO 21 912 PRINT “IS OKAY JUST PRESS |
120 LET x=63 YY). IF THE"
138 PLOT x,y 928 PRINT "JOB IS GONE THAT YoU
142 LET x=x-1 HAD LAST"
158 LET Yeyetl 930 PRINT “WEEK . AND YOu CONS T il
162 PLOT x,¥ ANT TO oo"
L?7@ LET vs¥42 942 PRINT "IT AGAIN, PRESS (N)}
432 NEXT N ANG A NEW
ize LEY x =264 $5@ PRINT “JOB WILL BE SELECTED
220 FOR N=1 TO 32 :
212 LET y=s42 960 PRINT AT 12,98; "TO START PRE
220 PLOT x,¥ SS ANY KEY"
230 LET X=x-4 9372 PAUSE 42992
242 LET yY=¥+1 B8@ CL5
258 PLOT X,¥ 392 caro 1120
280 LET x=x-1 1228 Ce He r &
278 NEXT W 18ia BIN Pst t
233 Foe Nai" HEED Gb Bet
292 FOR N=1 TO 20 3 3
380 LET X= 1249 NEXT N :
310 PLOT x,¥ :
322 LET X=xX41
340 SG
3 KY
23590 LET Matad 1838 teu Ni
360
372
3383
L YY s¥-

a PSiP) |
ae0 LET YoSl 119@ GoSus issa |
472 FOR N=1l TO is 1235 ]
488 LET xX244 ; taste - L2ae@ PRINT os tb -- ne oot
$98 PLOT x,7¥ 1218 PRINT AT 7,0:"I3 THIS JOB 9 |
SQQa LET vyer-1 K?P--ENTER (Yi GR UNI"

S1iQ@ NEXT. N 1229 LET YS$=INKEYs 2
S20 LET 83: i - 1230 TF ¥ss"" THEN GOTO 1220
$32 PRINT AT 15,3,83 1240 IF Y$<>"N" THEN LPRINT PS(P
542 PRINT TAB 3:55 G eect 20, fee EEEEEREREESEEEEES
S5@ PRINT TAB 3:83 seaaeeaee28E52"

S62 PRINT TAB 3:85 qeeaae are ¥S$iO"N" THEN LPRINT

573 PRINT AT 17,11; "9CUN 333" =

S8Q@ FOR Nei = aa Bou a 1l27@ IF vey ta THEN GOTO 13808
S9@ NEXT N 2288 LET Cini =a

S33 FOR Nei TO 3 1299 GOTO 1138

S95 PRINT AT 7,13; 1308 LET AIP, J) sh

688 PRINT TAB 11; 12310 NEXT

1338 PRINT AT 3,2; "THIS CONCLUDE
3 THE JOB LIST”
i348 PRINT “FOR THE WEEK STARTIN

T 7,13;"THE"
530 PRINT TAB il; “NICKEL® 5”
840 PRINT TAB 12: “FAMILY”

5 +23 is 135@ PRINT
650 PRINT TAB 11; "JOB JAR 439@ PRINT
1378 PRINT ” "TS
; 1380 FOR I=1 To 4e

52 3,0; WELC mae
eo ne nee AT Q: ECE aME TA 1410 LPRINT

r4 ‘ 5,8;° H Re
vue Cares ee PLEASE ENTE 1438 PRINT AT 12,0; "REMOVE THE L

143
2 Benoa. sT WILL & IST FROM THE”
iy PRINT “THIS JOB LIST Wit 144@ PRINT "PRINTER AND POST ON
722 PRINT “EFFECTIVE. DAY “MONTH THE

r 4459 PRINT “KITCHEN DOOR. I WAS
730 PRINT AT 9,0; "EXAMPLE: 4 se GLAD

PT 19823" i480 PRINT “HELP YOU, SEE YOU HE
li oe M1! TA

Sees coe 12,0; "REMEMBER 1470 FoR Tat er

7 ae % an k

2 fo0 SEINE AFTER YoU TYPE IN TH 3950 FOR ret eee a
FQ INPUT Ts. 13@@ PRINT AT 13.12; "EEReea'
770 CLS 1312 PRINT AT 18,22; "°G000 BYE”
732 CBRINT 1528 NEXT I
cae LER i Wi NG ARE T is Stop

fesse can 15S@ LET NaINT (1+20RND)
348 LPRINT “ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE $1570 TF CIN) sl THEN GOTO 1552
WEEK OF" 158@ LET Cini =2
822 LPRINT 4598 RETURN
33@ LPRINT ;

842 LPRINT " “Ts

2068 NOTES by BICK SCOVILLE 8462 PRINT “ainput’: PRINT
; cs
Here is a program that will give eace Poo Vesseso F5 Ses ”
you the correct time whenever you eeee. Loe i,#
ti) a * > a
enter "GOTO tm”. The first time S488 NES! 6s ance

gc a es he ice, Bane Ler eeee cone ena

; ~_ U= 7 + Ss
the exact time in hours (1-12), se ee+SSGSPEEK 83674. LET Gcoga.c
minutes (0-39) and seconds (0-59). sas a a

S4eS LE UszUtais¢+.S

The clock starts as soon as the a=) LET veitt tu73608)
seconds are entered. Later, after g455 LET w=INT (us6@) -6@xV
using the computer to do other &429 LET U=INT (u-6@266 2) ~60 sus
things and assuming you haven’t peter al Veved: IF volta THEN LET
used RUN, CLEAR or NEW, if you S433 cls PRINT ae. qn eee

: ; rt v: hale :
"GOTO tm", you will get the e438 STOP ’ eW, t
correct time.

If your clock runs a few seconds too fast or too slow, change the
constant in line 8420 by a corresponding amount. For instance, if your
clock has lost 7 seconds in 2 hours, first change 2 hours to seconds
(2 hours=7200 seconds); then multiply the constant (4.2585) by
1+(7/7200). After making the change, there will be no need to reset. A
"GOTO tm" will give you the right time.

The program uses several variables: u, v, w, i, etc., ‘but there are
only two variables ois and tm which must be preserved while your
computer is on. So other programs can use u, v,; i, etc. provided they
also only make transient use of them.

If you SAVE the program, first CLEAR, then LET tm=8400, then SAVE.

My plan is to try to cram all my utility-type programs into BASIC line
numbers 8000 to 8999, so [711 be able to MERGE other kinds of programs
with no difficulty.

The 2068 version of my disassembler is available for $3.00 at our TSUG
meetings (send $5.00 and your cassette if you order by mail). My
address is Richard Scoville, 2313 W. Club, Durham, NC 27705. My
disassembler now includes all the system variable labels and provision
for entering labels of your own. Relative jumps are computed and
output can be either hex or decimal.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dick’s disassembler is a very nice program. I know that
he is looking for some second-hand Atari style joysticks which he’d
like to buy for $2.00 each so that he can use the switch mechanisms. I
also know that he’d like to work with people involved with Ze0
assembly language pragramings he’s a math professor at Duke
University, and I consider myself lucky when we sit down to talk about
computers, We often wrestle with our desire to be fair to the various
products that we review and to adequately guide our members via the
newsletter. I know that we both hope that we achieve these cesired
ends in each review we publish. We would like to see a great deal of
TIMEX and third-party software be of a much higher quality because we
know that software can sel] the computer--can make it irresistible!
can make it the best computer no matter how little it costs!! If you
are working along these same lines and are a thoughtful mathematician,
please do write to Dick Scoville.

PHIt & THE TS2x COMPUTER DEMONSTRATE
ALGORITHMIC APFROACHES TO ARTIFICIAL

INTELLIGENCE & IMAGE UNDERSTANDING
by FPRHil Megel meyer

In our joint meeting with the TI group in January we heard a
presentation by Phil Kegelmeyer, son of Bill Kk. and watched in
fascination as a simple program demonstrated ways that a computer can
detect edges, vertical edges and corners. We'll present a report on
this program in our March issue. And we'll also present the program so
that you can play around with it. We’d like to thank Phil for a job
well done: your program worked flawlessly and your documentation ane
Sreparation were excellent. You handled yourself in every way expertly
before our combined groups. I was particularly impressed by the
questi on-and-answer session.

4

HMitmist FF Saar ES FAST SS HOW Sb Cite ES Gi CMars
Aa BENCHMARK PROGRAM FOR THE TTSicooo
By Tec iileweli Y_r

This is a speed benchmark program adapted from BYTE, January 1983
issue, page 283, listing 5S. It is a program for generating prime
numbers based on the Sieve of Eratosthenes. Since it is designed toa
run in compiled languages, the program runs ten times, giving humans a
chance to time its speed on faster systems. I have a simpler prime
number generator based on the sieve, but this one runs faster.

The program is intended to run on systems with a fair amount of
memory. Thus, I created a character array in line 10 instead of a
-mumeric array, in order to get it to run on my 16K TS1i000.

The subroutine at 230 looks like a strange duplication of the main
program. This routine is necessary because Sinclair BASIC arrays start
at one, not zero. The program will not work unless the process starts
at zero.

The loops at 120 and 270 are my adaptation of the WHILE/WEND loop in
the original program.Since I wrote this adaptation in December, I have
found this type of loop very useful in other programs.

I have timed the program twice at 4530 seconds, which places the
TS1000 smack in the middie ¢(') of the pack of the ten slowest
implementations tested by BYTE. However, the TS did outrun such
illustrious machines as the Radie Shack III and the Xerox 820 running
interpreters. The timing of the pregram was calculated from the RUN
time entered until the printer started up, signalling completion. The
time given should be accurate within the limits of human reflexes and
the accuracy of my "Hong Kong Special" digital wristwatch.

Pushing the memory on my system to the limit, the largest array I
could create had 14700 elements. This generated 3194 primes, the
largest being 29401. One iteration of this variation teok about 926
seconds to run, as opposed to 438 seconds of one iteration of the
program used in the benchmark test.

The point of this exercise was to make the TSi000 jump through all the
same hoops as the machines tested by BYTE and compare the running
tmes. But of course the program can be run much faster. As the BYTE
articie said, the enire loop only has to run 63 times in order to flag
all the nonprime numbers from 3 to 16381. But the program can be sped
up much more by eliminating the loop that sets all of the flags to

"1." See my second listing from January 13, 1984, for a faster
version. Interestingly, the
construction in the second . 28 DIM Fe (eigea)
listing is faster than using eur LPRINT “PRIHES: 1a ITERATIO
an IF/THEN statement ta limit AF "
the number of loops (as in “IF io Ler POUNT = sie
1>62 THEN GOTO..."). And it is FOR I=1 TO 8180
much faster than the statement a hee ee :
“IF I<é6é2 and kK<=8190 THEN =o ooo aoe a
iy = . < Sis 4 =. fa
esata ies This. optiaized 35 IF FSiT}="@" THEN GOTO 140
program runs through one 18@ LET PRIME =I43r4+3
iteration in 312 seconds, and he ae Sk a
through _ten in S214 seconds, t2@ IF Kes =319¢0 ee soto 2ae
for a 29% increase in speed. 138 LET COUNT=COUNT42
CEditor’s Note: this second 140 NEXT I
: 15@ NEXT M
speedier program would put the 16@ LPRINT COUNT; PRIMES"
TS1000 ahead of the TI 9974 L178 LPRINT “LARGEST: “; PRI
and the Heath H-89 2MHz., and at meee
just behind the PET and the see LET Feikie'@"
HP-85. The BYTE article lists 218 LET K=K+PRINE
run times from 3084 (HP-85) to esactee Goa
5740 (Xerox 820) seconds for 240 LET PRIME=I+I+3
the ten slowest (interpreted 25@ REM PRINT PRIME," “;
language) computers or 50 TE Kc ca1S0 THEN gOTO sae
processor /operating 238 LET SOUNT=COUNT 41
system/language combinations. aoe RETURN Ate
But all of this may be 340 LET Kok PRIG
Y 318 LET K=K+PRINE
academic when we compare these se@ GOTO 278
computers and languages to the
slowest of the FAST computers Teoe sardes ITERATIONS
mentioned in the article, the LEBGEST: 16361

Univac 1100/82, which took

0.67 of a second or an IBM RUN TIME: 4530 SECONDS.
3033 at 0.0078 of a JANUARY 8, 1984
second. ]

2@ LET COUNT=s@
32 DIM Fs$isiga)
So LET oR He erores
#I¢3 °°
62 REM LPRINT PRIME; ” by Doug Dewey
78 LET K=I+PRIME
3a IF Kv2ai9@ THEN GoTo 110

13 VAN. 1984 64 CHARACTERS
Soa LPRINT “PRIMES: 198 ITERATIO
40 FOR Nei TO 22 AND A CLEAR SCREEN?

98 LET COUNT=COUNT+21 is i ‘
182 GOTO 2e0 This is the way you begin to
11@ LET FSiKi="1" work with 64 characters on
ear Cece aa ene the screen. You need to
Ba G °
2008 FOR Isl To 62 shuffle everything around
218 IF Fg(Iis"i" THEN GOTO 270 - inside the computer’s RAM
220 LET PRIME=I+I+3 ie memory and that is exactly
a8 ae eee eee ; what this routine does.
25@ IF K<=8198 THEN GOTO 3ee@ Follow the prompts in the
260 LET COUNT=COUNT+1 REM statements and you
2°Oa NEXT I h
33a GOTO 400 should not have any
gy 302 LET Fgikiea" troubles; The routine to
Sao sora sca actually PRINT directly on
S G 2
48@ FOR I=63 To 32 the screen and see all 64
nee Ie rg (2) std" TREN GOTO 45@ Spaces used, probably
+I4:
450 REM LPRINT PRIME; " “; involves some fancy block
440 LET COUNT=COUNT+2 transfer machine code that
450 WEXxT I may be more involved than
462 NEXT M ; :
S@2 LPRINT COUNT)" PRIMES” this simple program. More on
S1Q LPRINT “LARGEST: “; PRIME this: later as we find out
520 LPRINT / MOG...»
PRIMES: 18 ITERATIONS
18939 PRIMES 1 REM This program allows the
LARGEST: 16381 | User tO reallocate various
different components of RAM
RUN TIME: 3214 SECONDS. . memory and make way for a clear

screen in the 64-character mode,
See page 254 for the different
display filevmemory maps and
Pages ed? and 248 for the codes
for variable b.
2 REM Catt

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2 PRINT “Please input b": INP
1@ LET a=63000

20 READ n: POKE aon
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